Jennifer Nelson, LICSW-S, LCSW
Founder & CEO | Therapist | Clinical Supervisor

I’m Jennifer Nelson, a Birmingham, Alabama native, licensed clinical social worker, therapist, clinical supervisor, and founder of Kintsugi Counseling & Consulting, LLC. With more than 16 years of experience in the social work and mental health fields, I am passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, supported, and empowered to navigate life with greater intention, healing, and self-compassion.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Montevallo and my Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work from the University of Georgia. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds and across a variety of life circumstances. My professional experience has allowed me to support people navigating mental health concerns, relationship challenges, life transitions, stress, and the many unexpected experiences that can make life feel overwhelming.

As the founder and CEO of Kintsugi Counseling & Consulting, I believe therapy is about more than simply managing symptoms. It is an opportunity to understand yourself more deeply, examine the stories and experiences that have shaped you, develop healthier ways of responding to life’s challenges, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and meaningful.

The philosophy behind Kintsugi is especially meaningful to me. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, highlighting rather than hiding the places where something has been broken. I believe our lives can be much the same. Our difficult experiences, losses, disappointments, relationships, transitions, and struggles do not have to define us—but they can become meaningful parts of our story. Healing does not require us to erase what happened. Sometimes, healing means learning how to integrate those experiences into who we are becoming.

I also believe deeply in the courage it can take to participate in therapy. I have a therapist of my own, and I value, honor, and appreciate the vulnerability that comes with allowing another person into the parts of our lives that may feel difficult, painful, confusing, or deeply personal. Being a therapist does not make me immune to life’s challenges, and being a client has reminded me of the courage it takes to sit across from someone, be honest, and allow yourself to be seen. I carry that perspective with me into my work with every client.

My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, authenticity, collaboration, and the belief that you are the expert on your own life. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you can be honest about where you are without judgment while also being challenged, when appropriate, to recognize your strengths, explore new possibilities, and make meaningful changes. My goal is not to tell you who you should be, but to help you better understand yourself and support you as you determine what healing, growth, and a meaningful life look like for you.

In addition to providing clinical services, I am passionate about clinical supervision, professional development, and supporting the next generation of social workers. I believe strong clinicians are developed through intentional mentorship, honest reflection, continued learning, and a willingness to remain both competent and compassionate in the work.

I am licensed as an LICSW-S in Alabama and an LCSW in North Carolina.

Beyond the Therapist’s Office

While I take my work seriously, I believe in making room for joy, laughter, creativity, and the people and experiences that make life meaningful. Outside of my professional roles, I enjoy singing, dancing, taking naps, reading, coloring, cooking, writing poetry, laughing until my stomach hurts, and spending quality time with my mom, husband and our fur baby, Sammy.

Overall, I'm just a person seeking to help the next person in as human a way as possible... I look forward to the work we can do TOGETHER! 

#LetsBeWell #LetsHeal